This tiramisu recipe is quick and easy to make, and you only need 6 ingredients to make this no-bake espresso-flavored dessert. It's a readers' favorite and very popular with my family. The super creamy and smooth melt-in-your-mouth texture is just dreamy, and enjoying this classic Italian dessert will make you believe you are sitting in an authentic Italian cafe in Rome. By the way, have you tried my Panna Cotta?
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What is tiramisu?
Italian tiramisu is a no-bake espresso-flavored dessert. It's made of coffee-dipped ladyfingers with sweetened mascarpone cream and dusted with cocoa before serving.
Ingredients
Espresso
I usually pick up espresso at my favorite coffee shop as I can't replicate the taste of a professional coffee machine at home. Espresso is the coffee of choice in authentic Italian Tiramisu. If you pick up espresso at a coffee shop, keep in mind to pick up enough that you have about ½ - ¾ cup to soak the ladyfingers in.
However, if you have an awesome coffee machine at home, you can absolutely use your favorite strong-brewed coffee instead.
Also, coffee granules or instant coffee dissolved in hot water work. Actually every type of coffee works for this recipe. Since coffee is such an integral part of this dessert, only use coffee that you like the taste of.
Ladyfingers
For this authentic Tiramisu recipe, you need hard Italian ladyfingers (Savoiardi). Although it also works with soft ladyfingers, I don't recommend using them because the Tiramisu could end up too watery after chilling in the fridge.
Soft ladyfingers tend to get soggy because they soak much more liquid then hard ones. So, you would really need to be very fast in dipping the ladyfingers into the coffee that you, first, have enough coffee for all three layers of ladyfingers, and second, that you don't end up with a watery dessert at the end.
Mascarpone
I recommend using quality mascarpone. My favorites are BelGioioso and Galbani. Be sure that you don't interchange it for ricotta. Note: Mascarpone can be tricky to work with as it can curdle very quickly within seconds. Below, you find some tips for troubleshooting in the FAQs if needed.
Eggs
If you want to make this espresso-flavored dessert how Italians make it, you will want to use raw eggs. However, if you don't want to use raw eggs or want to skip the eggs altogether, below, you find alternatives in the substitutions chapter.
Sugar
It's best using powdered sugar as it dissolves and combines with the mixture the quickest and best. You can alternatively use superfine or granulated sugar and process it in a food processor until it looks like powdered sugar.
Cocoa
You can use either natural or Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting on top.
Photo instructions
First, start by mixing the egg yolks and sugar until white and creamy, and the sugar is completely dissolved. This takes about 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer on medium-high speed.
Then, add the mascarpone cheese and mix on medium-low speed just until smooth, creamy, and combined about 1 minute. Note: Use the mascarpone straight out of the fridge when adding it to the egg yolk mixture. Be careful not to overmix the mascarpone mixture.
When you are done mixing, the mascarpone cream should look like in the picture below. The consistency is smooth and creamy but not fluffy or airy like whipped cream.
Next, dip about 9-12 ladyfingers in espresso and arrange in the bottom of a 9x7x3 or 8x8x3 inches (23x18x8 or 20x20x8 cm) baking dish or casserole until fully covered. How many ladyfingers you need depends on the size of the ladyfingers as well as the dish used.
Then spread about ⅓ of the mascarpone mixture on top until evenly covered. You can do this with the back of a spoon or with an offset spatula.
Repeat the process of dipping the ladyfingers, arranging them in the casserole, and spreading mascarpone on top two more times and even the top.
Wrap the casserole with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for about 8-12 hours. Before you serve it, dust it with cocoa.
I finished my Tiramisu dessert with a layer of whipped cream that I piped on top of the chilled dessert and then dusted it with cocoa. It's not part of the recipe, and I did it just out of decoration purposes. From the taste point of view, it doesn't really matter if the whipped cream is on top or not.
Top tips for success
- Use a large mixing bowl for mixing the mascarpone mixture. This makes it less likely to overmix the mascarpone.
- I recommend using only fresh eggs. If an egg doesn't look or smell fresh, please don't use it.
- I don't recommend soaking the ladyfingers in coffee for too long. It makes the dessert watery. Just dip them on both sides quickly.
- Wrap the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap so that no air or odors from the fridge can get inside the Tiramisu.
- It is best eaten on the second day. The taste is getting better and the consistency creamier when you give it time to rest in the fridge overnight.
Variations
Gluten-free
You can make this Italian dessert gluten-free by using gluten-free ladyfingers instead of regular ones.
Dark Rum
Though adding rum is not traditional, it's popular and common. You could also add Amaretto liquor or brandy instead. You can either add 2 tablespoon (30ml) to the coffee where you dip the ladyfingers in or add 1 tablespoon (15ml) to the mascarpone cream. Or both.
Whipping Cream
If you want to add whipping cream to your mascarpone cream, you can add ½ cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream after mixing the mascarpone mixture and mix on medium-high speed for about 2-3 minutes until peaks form.
Also, you can add whipped cream on top of the chilled Tiramisu before you dust it with cocoa. To recreate the beautiful top as in the pictures, just pipe little dollops of whipped cream on top. I used a Wilton 1A round tip with my piping bag.
Substitutions
Eggs
If you don't want to consume (raw, unpasteurized) eggs, you have a few options.
- Use pasteurized eggs
If you find pasteurized eggs in the store you can consume them raw safely because they have already been heated within the shells. It's hard to find them in the store though and are not widely available.
2. Lightly cook the egg yolks and sugar
In this case, mix the mascarpone with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
To cook the egg yolks and sugar, you can use a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, place a heat-proof bowl on top of a pot filled up 2 inches (5cm) high with simmering water.
Whisk the egg yolks and sugar continuously until foamy and light for about 5 minutes. Then remove from the heat and add to the mascarpone cheese and mix until creamy and combined.
3. Skip the eggs
If you don't want to use eggs at all, mix the mascarpone cheese until creamy for about 1-2 minutes. Then add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth, combined, and sugar is dissolved for about 2-3 minutes.
Keep in mind that without the egg yolks, you have less cream. In this case, I recommend making just a two-layered Tiramisu or add ½ cup (120ml) of whipping cream to the mascarpone mixture and whisk until peaks form.
Coffee
If you want to serve this dessert to kids or people that are sensitive to caffeine, you can use either de-caffeinated coffee or use hot cocoa instead.
Storing and freezing
You can store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Please be sure to wrap the baking dish very tightly with plastic wrap, that no air or odors from the fridge can go inside the Tiramisu.
If you want to freeze it, prepare as described, wrap tightly and chill for 4 hours in the fridge. Then transfer to the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge for 24 hours. Dust with cocoa before serving.
FAQs + Troubleshooting
Why did my mascarpone mixture curdle?
Mascarpone may curdle and looks like cottage cheese within a couple of seconds after starting mixing. It can be very quickly overmixed because of its high-fat content. So, if this ever happened to you, you are not alone. This can happen to everybody and is not related to this recipe, particularly.
Tips for success and troubleshooting
- Buy mascarpone cream that contains nothing but (milk,) cream, and citric acid and has a high-fat content - around 42g out of 100g. Don't buy any low-light or substitute product.
- Mascarpone should be used cold and straight out of the fridge.
- Use a large mixing bowl that you have enough place to mix the mascarpone.
- Mix the cream on medium speed and just long enough until smooth and combined.
- If your mascarpone did curdle, you still can save it by transferring the mixture to a microwave-safe bowl and carefully warm it up or by using a double boiler and whisk until smooth. I read some more excellent tips on the Food52 website on that topic.
Why is my Tiramisu watery?
The reason why it can be watery is when the ladyfingers are soaked for too long and are already soggy when arranged in the baking dish. When chilling the dessert, the ladyfingers lose then the access coffee and make the cream watery.
Please make sure that you dip them on both sides quickly that just the outside of the ladyfingers is soft but the inside still solid when you arrange them in the pan.
If that happened to you, you can just try to transfer the Tiramisu to a clean and dry container and remove the excess liquid.
More European desserts to try
If you are looking for European desserts, you've come to the right place. Here are some of my favorite European classics.
Recipe
Authentic Italian Tiramisu Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 large egg yolks, cold
- 1 cup unpacked powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 ¼ cups full-fat mascarpone, cold
- 27-36 Italian ladyfingers (hard ones)
- ½ cup cooled brewed espresso or strong coffee
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks and powdered sugar on medium-high speed until creamy and the sugar is completely dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the mascarpone and mix on medium speed just until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Quickly dip both sides of the ladyfingers into the coffee, 1 to 2 seconds per side, and arrange 9 to 12 ladyfingers on the bottom of a 9 x 7 x 3–inch (23 x 18 x 8 cm) or 8 x 8 x 3–inch (20 x 20 x 8 cm) casserole dish. The necessary amount of ladyfingers will depend on the size of the ladyfingers as well as that of the casserole dish. The required amount of coffee depends on how long you dip the ladyfingers and how much they soak up. I don’t recommend soaking the ladyfingers for too long; otherwise, the Tiramisu will end up very watery.
- Spread about one-third of the mascarpone cream on top of the ladyfingers. Repeat twice more, so that the Tiramisu is assembled as follows from bottom to top: ladyfingers + cream, ladyfingers + cream, ladyfingers + cream.
- Wrap the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap so that no air or odors from the fridge can get inside the tiramisu. Refrigerate overnight for about 8-12 hours. Before serving, dust the top lightly with cocoa powder. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Use a large mixing bowl for mixing the mascarpone mixture. This makes it less likely to overmix the mascarpone.
- I recommend using only fresh eggs. If an egg doesn't look or smell fresh, please don't use it.
- Don't skip the chilling time. Tiramisu is best eaten on the second day. The taste is getting better and the consistency creamier when you give it time to rest in the fridge overnight.
Eggs
- If you find pasteurized eggs in the store you can consume them raw safely because they have already been heated within the shells. It's hard to find them in the store though and are not widely available.
- You can also cook the egg yolks and the sugar before adding them to the mascarpone. In this case, mix the mascarpone with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy and set aside. To cook the egg yolks and sugar, use a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, place a heat-proof bowl on top of a pot filled up 2 inches (5cm) high with simmering water. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar continuously until foamy and light for about 5 minutes. Then remove from the heat and add to the mascarpone cheese and mix until creamy and combined.
- If you don't want to use eggs at all, mix the mascarpone cheese until creamy for about 1-2 minutes. Then add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth, combined, and sugar is dissolved for about 2-3 minutes. Keep in mind that without the egg yolks, you have less cream. In this case, I recommend making just a two-layered Tiramisu or add ½ cup (120ml) of whipping cream to the mascarpone mixture and whisk until stiff peaks form.
Dark Rum You could add 2 tablespoon (30ml) of rum to the coffee where you dip the ladyfingers in. You can also add 1 tablespoon of rum to the mascarpone cream. You could also use Amaretto or brandy.
Whipping Cream If you want to add whipping cream to your mascarpone cream, you can add ½ cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream after you mixed the mascarpone mixture and mix on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes until peaks form. Also, you can add whipped cream on top of the chilled Tiramisu before you dust it with cocoa. To recreate the beautiful top as in the pictures, just pipe little dollops of whipped cream on top. I used a Wilton 1A round tip with my piping bag.
Gluten-Free This recipe can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free ladyfingers instead of regular ones.
Coffee If you want to serve this dessert to kids or people that are sensitive to caffeine, you can use either de-caffeinated coffee or use hot cocoa instead.
More Questions? Make this recipe perfect every time. So be sure to check the full post above. I included easy step-by-step photo instructions and also plenty of useful tips like what to do if your mascarpone curdles and what to do about it.
**Consuming raw eggs is at your own risk.**
Video
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Nutrition
Rimmi
Incredibly detailed recipe and very easy to follow. This is my favorite dessert and it turned out great. Thanks for all the tips!
Constantin
Great recipe and super easy to make. This is my first time making tiramisu and it went very well. I didn’t have the right container so mine has is a little higher than the usual but it tasted amazing!
Becky
I love this recipe. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert. This recipe is awesome I have made several times and my husband and son both love it. I have tried other recipes and they were okay but not anything like this one. Thank you.
Shraddha
Hands down one of the best Tiramisus I have had. I tried the eggless version and ended using more coffee but it was spot on. Thank you
RC
Awesome recipe! It's my favorite but I've always hesitated trying to make it, thinking it would be hard to make. But this recipe is so easy to follow and all the notes and tips were so helpful! Thank you!
Marijke
This was my first time making Tiramisu and it is the best dessert I've EVER made! 😍 I did add Kaluah but the texture and consistency was spot on.
Charity Cunningham
This recipe is fantastic!!! The hubs and I have been craving tiramisu from our favorite Italian restaurant, but haven’t gone in ages (thanks Covid!). I made this today and we enjoyed it tonight and deemed it better than we’ve have had!! I did omit the eggs, added 1/2 c heavy cream and a few light pours of Kahlua to the cream and the coffee. Delicious!!!
Americo
Thank you for your recipe. I have been looking all over the web for an authentic Italian recipe and yours is the first I have found. I have given the recipe 5 stars before even making it because I believe that it is the real deal. I was under the impression that the real Italian version is often made with Zabaglione rather with no heat at all. Is that true? Sounds real Italian to me. BTW, what subs would you make to use Kalua or other coffee based liquors for flavor? Thanks for your great recipe. I am going to make it for Christmas.
Sabine
You will find different authentic tiramisu recipes from Italy but this one is my favorite and does not contain any alcohol. And originally, Tiramisu does not contain alcohol. Zabaglione is made of egg yolks, sugar, and sweet wine and can be used as a basis for the mascarpone cream. If you want to add liquor I suggest adding 1 tbsp to the mascarpone cream and 2 tbsp to the coffee. Hope that helps! Happy holidays!
Charlotte
I made this for my boyfriend's birthday as Tiramisu is one of his favourite desserts. The recipe worked perfectly and was easy to follow. I used dry marsala wine (in the mascarpone and in the espresso mix) instead of rum and it was very tasty. I needed a bit more espresso liquid than the recipe stated so had to make a second brew, but otherwise the recipe was great. Delish!!
daniel
Hi! I was wondering why you don't use egg whites or heavy cream in this recipe. will it make it less airy?
Sabine
Hi Daniel, an original Italian Tiramisu recipe doesn't use egg whites nor heavy cream. It's a creamy but no airy dessert. You absolutely can add heavy cream or egg whites if you prefer though. I hope that helps!